Office Bound

1

Tias life had never been easy. Tormentors and bullies had followed her every step through school and after the car crash that took her parents life and nearly her own, she was left her alone in the world. Yet despite the horrors in her life, she managed to maintain a certain air of positivity, even when she was feeling anything but. She had no family after her parents died, but she managed to opt out of going into foster care, instead managing to persuade them on a monthly check from a social worker.

After her parents death, Tia got a job, reminding herself every time she wished she didn't have to go, that she was lucky her home was paid and furnished and her car was paid and insured. The money she had left from the life insurance, went towards the monthly bills that depleted the already small pile. Her job was used to pay for her food, clothing and general amenities, any item that wasn't a big buy.

At 16 she was working every night for the local diner, serving patrons with a tired smile. When she finished at 9, she would go home and do her homework, finally collapsing into her bed around 11, only to wake up the next day at 7 and do it all again. Weekends she worked double shifts, 9am to 9pm, a solid 12 hours on her feet. She didn't have time for friends, and no one wanted to get close to her anyway, afraid they'd be included in the bullies targets. The end of school approached, and whilst many were excited about going to university, Tia knew in her heart that it was something she was never going to get the opportunity to do, she simply did not have the funds, yet she didn't want to work in a diner for the rest of her life. She began to apply, looking for anything in an office, hoping with all her heart that her luck would change this once and help her land something.